Our Red deer, the largest of the native species, live in large family groups and are reared and slaughtered on the farm in familiar surroundings. This avoids stress for the animals as there is no transport and minimal food miles. Although definitely not wild our deer are managed so their behaviour can reflect that of their wilder cousins.

Our deer
Our breeding herd of mainly hinds (female Red deer), run in three family groups. Deer are seasonal breeders with distinct mating and breeding seasons. For most of the year the breeding stags (males) live in male dominated groups.Summer - in the summer we run our breeding stags with the year-old stock so they can teach them the way around and keep the young stock under control.Autumn - The rut or mating season is in the autumn, this is when an individual stag is selected and introduced to the hinds.Winter - rations for our breeding stock is conserved forage, hay or silage. Depending on our silage analysis we sometimes need to supplement the forage ration for the younger stock with feedstuffs higher in protein or energy. Deer demonstrate a winter period of inappetance when they reduce their daily feed intake, but it's important that the rations we provide meet their dietary needs - a delicate balance.Spring - the calves are born from the middle of May to the middle of July and stay with their mothers until the autumn when the availability of grazing reduces, a natural weaning point. We rarely need to assist at calving, and deer are good mothers with a strong maternal bond. Some of the calves from each season are selected as replacements for the breeding herd.

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